Collapsible container



Oct. 7, 1952 v. Dl MAURO ETAL 2,612,926

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed April l, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl' .2. 3a 33 36 3337 y 'n m n1 /8 /4 InventorsI Venerandq 0i Mau/0 Joseph DI Mauro 'George De George www Oct. '7, T952 v. Dl MAURO ETAL 2,612,926

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed April l, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3.

F ig 8 F ig. 9. 50 I n veu to rs 46 58 56 52 49 Venerando D/Mauro Joseph Di Mauro George 0e George Oct. 7, 1952 Filed April l, 1949 v. D1 MAURO Erm. 2,612,926

COLLAPSIBLE. CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 6.

Inventors Venerondo 'DI Mauro Joseph DI Mauro George De George @Mmm Patented Oct. 7, 1952 orFicE COLLAPSEBLE CONTAINER Venerando Di Mauro, Joseph Di Mauro, and George De George, Brooklyn, N. Y.

appucauonsprii 1, 1949, serias No. 84,966

2 claims. (o1. 15o-49) This invention relates to novel and useful improvements in containers of the collapsible type.

An object of this invention is to support various and sundry articles in a container which has improved characteristics in collapsing or folding whereby it may be easily moved from one position to the other, stored, and transported, the improvement residing in the actual structure of the various structural elements and the combination thereof, the bottom of the container being made or 'various cross members iixed together, and having upturned end portions whereby sides which are composed of pivoted sections may be pivotaily carried by the upturned end portion so that the entire device may collapse into a neat and orderly arrangement.

A meritorious feature of the invention the use of a latch in connection with the sides to` maintain them in the extended position and the use of a stop in` connection with the latch to limit the pivotal movement of the sections so that they are maintained in the full open posi1 tion and cannot override this position.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred form of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of one form of the invention; i

Figure 2 is an elevational view taken from the side and showing the device as illustrated in Figure l, portions of the liner being broken away to illustrate details of construction;

l Figure 3 is an elevational side view of a slightly modified forrn of the invention; l

` Figure 4 is a View showing the embodiment of the device of Figure 3 in the partially collapsed position; i

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational detail construction showing the connection between the sections;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line |3-6 of Figure 5 and in the direction of the arrows and illustrative further of the type of connection between the two sections;

Figure 7 is a back view of the detail of construction shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional view` taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 7 and in the 'direction of the arrows;

this form differing from that of Figure 3 in that there are additional strengthening members supplied; i

Figure ll is an elevational View showing a modification in the pivotal connection between the sides and the bottom; i i

Figure l2 is an enlarged elevational detail of construction showing the stop which limits the relative movement of the sections with respect to each other; and

Figure 13 ls an elevational fragmentary part of any of the embodiments teaching theutility of casters on the skids beneathl the basket or collapsible container.

IThe present invention involves the concept of a new article of manufacture having utility in many elds. The actual use to which the4 invention is placed ultimately is not limited in any manner, as the device is adaptable particularly for use in connection with laundries,

bakeries, hotel services, gymnasiums, and in many other environments.

The basic structure for the variousmodincations is simplified. Viewing Figures l and v2, it will be seen that a liner ill is provided within the connes of the walls and the bottom oi the container. This container is one ofv the articles of manufacture. It is noted at the outset that the size of the container is immaterial, that is, it may be made very smalll or very large. Also, the sides may be tapering whereby there is a small top and a large bottom or, vice versa, a large top and small bottom; A closure of any type may be used in connection with the container andV releasably fastened in place by means l of a padlock, latch or the like.

The framing of the container shown in Figures l. and 2 is as follows: A plurality of substantially parallel cross members l2 are supplied with upturned ends I4 (Figure 2). Another set of a plurality of cross members l5 are provided, forming another `part of the bottom and are connected with the iirst set oi cross members l2 erally indicated at 22, and a lower section generally indicated at 24. The said upper and lower same in the open position.

sections are pivoted together by means of an eye and pin connection (Figure 12).

Viewing rst the upper section 22, it will be seen that in this particular embodiment there are three pairs of rods 2B, 28 and 29, 33 and 3|, 32. The upper ends of all of these rods have eyes 33 formed thereon which are disposed on an upper pivot bar 36. This upper pivot bar extends around the total number of upper sections 22. Flanking the eyes 33 is a pair of stops 37 and 33, respectively, which prohibit lateral movement of the rods of the bars on the upper pivot bar 33. The

'rods 26, 28 being maintained in spaced relation by a brace plate 21. Each pair of rods is made in this manner.

The lower rods are made in an identical manner and have stops and brace plates connected therewith on the lower pivot bar 2Q. The inner ends of the pairs of rods are connected by means of an eye and pin combination. In Figure 9 this structure is shown clearly. Strengthening plates 4U and 52, respectively, are attached to the upper pairs of bars and the lower pairs of bars. Either the upper or the lower Plates @d or l2 may be provided with a latch and latch keeper respectively. For illustrative purposes, the keeper ift is disposed on the plate lid, while the latch 136 is disposed on the lower plate l2 for engagement therewith. These plates are fitted one behind the other so that the eyes il and dil at the lower parts of the rods 26 and 2B may nt within the eyes 49 and 53 which are on the upper ends of the rods of the lower section 2li. Then, pins are simply passed through the appropriate eyes and these pins are conventional in nature and may downwardly on the upper pivot bar ed, thereby collapsing the framing so that it fits snugly within the base or bottom of the container.

In opening the device, it is only necessary to pick up the upper pivot bar 33, thereby pivotally operating the upper section with respect to the lower section 24 and automatically latching the ln order that the device may be maintained in the proper extended position, means for limiting the travel of the section 22 with respect to the section 24, and accordingly all of the sections with respect to each other, is provided. This means consists of a simple plate 63, Figure 12, which is ixed to one of the bars of each pair for cooperation with the next adjacent bar in the other section. More specincally, the plate St is carried by one of the eyes and cooperates with not only the next adjacent eye but also a part of the material of the rod whereon the eye is located.

In this form of the invention, if it is found desirable, skids may be provided. The skids would be simple wood pieces as disclosed in Figure 13. Also this form of the invention may include skids in combination with casters t2 and 63,y respectively, which are aixed to the said skids. This is but a matter of choice.

Referring to Figure 3, another structure is shown. Here the skids 66 are illustrated as being attached in the -appropriate place, that is, to the bottom, generally indicated at 68. This bottom is constructed identical to the bottom of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1 and has sides connected on the pivot bar 10 also in an identical manner as described in connection with the nrst form of the invention. The sides are composed of upper sections 12 and lower sections 'I4 which are fixed in the extended position by means of the latches 4B cooperating in the same manner as discussed above. The only difference between this form of the invention and the initial form described in Figures 1 and 2 is in the reduction of a number of side rod sets and in the simplification of the combination. The embodiment of Figure 2 is a more comprehensive combination in that it includes three sets of rods extending from the upper pivot bar 38 and a similar number extending from the lower pivot bar 2t. The upper pivot bar 1S of Figure 3 has only one set of bars extending therefrom and there is a similar number extending from the lower pivot bar 1Q.

Figure 10 shows a still further modification of the invention. In this connection, this modication is substantially the sameas that of Figure 3. The differentiating feature is the use of structural supporting members extending from the pairs of bars 82, 84, and 36, 88 which form a part of the upper section Z2 and the lower section M The strengthening members may be used or may be obviated, as desired. Further, other shapes of strengthening members may be used. Various combinations of strengthening members may be used. It is contemplated that the ends which are narrower than the sides of the container be made without any strengthening members 3i? but the sides be made with them therein due to the longer span. When the strengthenmembers are used, they extend from the rods as discussed and terminate at a single pair of rods 89 and 30 respectively which depend from its upper pivot bar and a similar number 9| and 92 respectively which extend upwardly from the lower pivot bar.

The eyes used in connection with the invention may be turned inwardly or outwardly as desired. Reference to Figure 11 shows the eyes turned inwardly at the lower and upper ends of the bars while reference to the other figures in the drawings shows the eyes reversed or turned in the opposite direction.

It is appa-rent that other variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l.. A. collapsible container comprising sides and a bottom, said bottom being composed of one set yof a plurality of substantially parallel cross members having vertical upwardly extending ends, a 4second set of substantially parallel cross members being arranged transverse to the other set, means connecting at least some of the members of the rst set with members of the second set, the cross members in the second set having vertical upwardly extending ends, horizontal pivot bars secured to said ends and vertically spaced from said cross members, means pivotally connecting said sides with said bars, each of said sides including sections pivoted together, each of said sections including spaced apart rod members, the confronting ends of said sections having reinforcing plates secured thereto, latches carried by said plates to retain said sectionsrreleasably in a single plane, said sections being pivoted together by means of an eye and pin connection,

and a stop carried by one of the eyes limiting the relative movement of the sections.

2. A collapsible container `having a substantially rigid bottom and foldable side walls, said bottom comprising two sets of parallel cross members, one set of cross members being arranged transverse to the other set, said sets of cross members being joined together, upturned ends of said cross members, eyes formed on said upturned ends, a pivot bar extending around said bottom and being secured in said eyes, a top pivot bar extending around and outlining the top of the container, collapsible side members extending between and pivoted on said top and bottom pivot bars, each collapsible side member including a pair of spaced apart rod members, each rod member having an upper and lower section, top and bottom brace plates maintaining said rod members in fixed spaced relation, stop members on said pivot bars, reinforcing plates attached to the upper and lower sections of the pairs of rods, eyes in said rods, a pin passing through said eyes to join said upper and lower rod sections, said reinforcing plates fitting one behind the other, a latch bar slidably secured on the front plate, said plate having an aperture positioned to be intersected by said latch bar, a keeper on the rear plate positioned to extend through said aperture and slidably receive said latch bar.

VENERANDO DI MAURO.

JOSEPH DI MAURO.

GEORGE DE GEORGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

